Morning Walk

I ran into Leo the giraffe man. He is a sweetheart with spots like a giraffe.

I love animals he said. He reached to pet Romeo, but after last night's fireworks Romeo was in no mood to be social.

Me too, I replied.

I want to buy a house and have my basement man-cave: a couch, an ash tray and a TV.

That's doable, I said.

I just found out my wife's pregnant. I don't want any more kids, he said.

Aren't you about to adopt 2 pit bull puppies?

Yes, if we get a house.

I'm sorry about Romeo. He's scared of the fireworks so I give him generic Benadryl.

I didn't know you could do that.

Yes, check with your vet it's based on the weight of your dog to determine the right amount. My dog is 60 pounds.

He's the weight of my snake.

What? You have a 60 pound snake? What does he eat?

Guinea pigs and a whole chicken.

From the store?

No, live chicken.

What do you do? Open the door and throw in a chicken?

Yes!

Leo continued. Once I was on the train in NYC with my snake in my backpack, when he was only this long, he said, opening his arms 3 feet. I went to get up and my pack was lighter.

No screams?

Nobody knew.

Where did he go?

You know those vents under the seats of the subway train? He crawled in there. Luckily I had a screwdriver with me and I could get him out. 

Oh my god!

In my house I'd like a room for my snake and a room for me.  

I'm not sure the housing authority in Woonsocket would go along with this kind of pet in an apartment house. A python feeding on a live chicken.

No they wouldn't, Leo said smiling. He turned and crossed to go to AJ's mini mart for cigarettes. See you around, I said.

When I turned onto East School Street I saw 4 adult males with toy machine guns - red green yellow orange dayglow - walking across 2 lanes of traffic down the street, the guns in firing position aimed straight ahead. The guns made shooting noises and my dog freaked so I turned away and went home. 

Once inside I phoned dispatch. I explained that this might sound silly but please ask an officer to drive by. I recognized 2 of the adults as drug dealers from our neighborhood.